On May 1, 2023, Spectrum News ran a story on adults with autism. Jennifer O’Neill, TRI’s Special Education Advocate was interviewed regarding her advocacy work at TRI for individuals on the autism spectrum. You can view the full video and turn captions on if needed. Click on Continue Reading below to access the Video Link.
Category: Media
All media that includes Op/ed Commentaries, TRI in the News and Press Releases written that will be archived indefinitely
![MEMORANDUM OF SUPPORT Disability Inclusion in Public Bodies Meetings Taconic Resources for Independence, Inc. (TRI) was founded in 1986 and is Dutchess County’s leading disability advocacy organization, dedicated to empowering persons with disabilities to lead self-directed lives in the community. TRI works within the community to provide disability awareness and advocacy for the removal of barriers. TRI strongly supports the Executive budget proposal and Senate’s amending language to provide for virtual meeting flexibility under the Open Meetings Law (OML) to public bodies organized for disability matters, and for officials with disabilities to count in quorums for all public meetings if they are attending remotely. As part of the Governor’s emergency declaration at the beginning of the pandemic, exemptions made to OML allowed public bodies meetings to be held via videoconferencing. This emergency action allowed everyone to participate remotely. The declaration allowed people with disabilities to more fully participate because most physical barriers and other constraints were removed in these virtual spaces. It increased civic engagement by a population that has historically been excluded from government – an important advance for the civil rights of our community. This policy of greater inclusion for people with disabilities must continue. While the current proposal largely impacts public bodies with a focus on disability, it serves as a starting point to make other significant changes that will increase civic engagement by people with disabilities and all New Yorkers. Ultimately, those changes should include making hybrid meetings the standard for all government bodies, along with increased use of American Sign Language and other accessibility accommodations at public meetings. As an important first act, these straightforward changes should move forward as part of the 2023-2024 budget agreement to ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities, who still face major barriers to access. TRI urges adoption of the Senate’s OML budget proposal as included in Article VII (S.4008-B), Part X (see below). Senate Article VII Proposals (S.4008-B): PART X -- The Senate modifies the Executive proposal to provide flexibility under the Open Meetings Law (OML) to public bodies organized for disability matters by advancing language to specify which public bodies would be able to host fully-virtual open meetings, link the term "individuals with disabilities" to the existing parameters set by Human Rights Law, and allow for individuals with disabilities to be counted toward a quorum under the existing hybrid OML system (S.1525--see https://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2023/S1525) Amending Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 103-a of the public officers law [OML], as added by section 2 of part WW of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 3. The in person participation requirements of paragraph (c) of subdivision two of this section shall not apply to (a) public bodies organized for the express purpose of performing a governmental function related to issues specific to individuals with disabilities.](https://taconicresources.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MEMORANDUMSupportOpenMeetings.4.2023.png)
MEMORANDUM OF SUPPORT
Disability Inclusion in Public Bodies Meetings
Taconic Resources for Independence, Inc. (TRI) was founded in 1986 and is Dutchess County’s leading disability advocacy organization, dedicated to empowering persons with disabilities to lead self-directed lives in the community. TRI works within the community to provide disability awareness and advocacy for the removal of barriers. TRI strongly supports the Executive budget proposal and Senate’s amending language to provide for virtual meeting flexibility under the Open Meetings Law (OML) to public bodies organized for disability matters, and for officials with disabilities to count in quorums for all public meetings if they are attending remotely.
As part of the Governor’s emergency declaration at the beginning of the pandemic, exemptions made to OML allowed public bodies meetings to be held via videoconferencing. This emergency action allowed everyone to participate remotely.
The declaration allowed people with disabilities to more fully participate because most physical barriers and other constraints were removed in these virtual spaces. It increased civic engagement by a population that has historically been excluded from government – an important advance for the civil rights of our community.
This policy of greater inclusion for people with disabilities must continue. While the current proposal largely impacts public bodies with a focus on disability, it serves as a starting point to make other significant changes that will increase civic engagement by people with disabilities and all New Yorkers. Ultimately, those changes should include making hybrid meetings the standard for all government bodies, along with increased use of American Sign Language and other accessibility accommodations at public meetings.
As an important first act, these straightforward changes should move forward as part of the 2023-2024 budget agreement to ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities, who still face major barriers to access. TRI urges adoption of the Senate’s OML budget proposal as included in Article VII (S.4008-B), Part X (see below).
Senate Article VII Proposals (S.4008-B): PART X — The Senate modifies the Executive proposal to provide flexibility under the Open Meetings Law (OML) to public bodies organized for disability matters by advancing language to specify which public bodies would be able to host fully-virtual open meetings, link the term “individuals with disabilities” to the existing parameters set by Human Rights Law, and allow for individuals with disabilities to be counted toward a quorum under the existing hybrid OML system (S.1525–see https://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2023/S1525) Amending Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 103-a of the public officers law [OML], as added by section 2 of part WW of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 3. The in person participation requirements of paragraph (c) of subdivision two of this section shall not apply to (a) public bodies organized for the express purpose of performing a governmental function related to issues specific to individuals with disabilities.
Looking for our 2024 event!?
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On Thursday, June 29th 2023 from 11 am-3 pm, we celebrated disability pride and culture at our 2nd annual TRI Inclusion Festival! Our event featured an array of accessible, engaging, and fun activities on the beautiful grounds of the Home of FDR Historic Site, located at 4097 Albany Post Rd., Hyde Park, NY. Come visit again next year!
New York State is embarking on a transition to an inclusive, clean energy-powered economy. All residents, businesses, and communities across the state will have access to new opportunities to benefit from this transition including clean energy careers, home improvements, and even rebates for businesses and personal transportation. But there’s a lot of information out there, and people may not know where to start.
To help New Yorkers access and navigate these opportunities, NYSERDA created the Regional Clean Energy Hubs. Clean Energy Hubs connect people to the clean energy economy. Each economic region in the state has a Hub of its own. You can find yours here: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Regional-Clean-Energy-Hubs/Find-Your-Clean-Energy-Hub-Today
One role of the Hubs is to facilitate an effective clean energy workforce pipeline, which empowers job seekers, improves diversity and inclusion in the field, supports local businesses, and enables New York State to physically build the infrastructure needed to reach its clean energy goals.
As experts in empowering and accommodating people with disabilities, it’s important for your local Hub to hear from you! An improved clean energy workforce must prioritize people who have historically been shut out of such careers. It is known that unemployment and underemployment are significantly worse for people with disabilities than people without. New York will create an estimated 200,000+ jobs through the clean energy transition, which makes this an excellent opportunity to build the necessary knowledge and accommodations into training and hiring from the outset.
If you are located in the Mid-Hudson Valley, you may reach out to Cal Trumann (cal@nyforcleanpower.org) to begin discussing involvement in the regional Clean Energy Hub’s workforce development efforts. Elsewhere in the state, please consult the NYSERDA website to find your Hub representative.
Renovations underway at the Amtrak station in Rhinecliff may take more than a year to complete, making it difficult for some riders to hop aboard.
That is why Rep. Pat Ryan recently wrote Amtrak, letting it know that those with disabilities may have a difficult time using the transportation system.
“I wrote a letter to the CEO of Amtrak directly,” said Ryan. “We were hearing from constituents there. There’s some confusions and misunderstanding and ultimately, people weren’t able to get on the train smoothly. So I thought it was very important that I elevate that voice.”
He said as excited as he is about the upgrades during the construction phase, it still presents challenges for riders.
Lisa Tarricone, executive director of Taconic Resources for Independence, said people with disabilities need to be taken more seriously.
“People with disabilities use Amtrak public transportation to go to school, medical appointments, to go to work, and it’s long, long overdue,” said Tarricone. She believes a good solution to the problem is to partner with them.
“It would be wonderful if Amtrak would partner with the disability community for recommendations and how we can best accommodate our community,” said Tarricone. “You know nothing about us without us as a setting in our community. I mean, we know best. We’re experts.”
Teryn Kuzma is a musician who frequently commutes to the city for auditions. She said she’s seen the impact it can have on people.
“The accessibility to the train station is a huge issue that a lot of us care deeply about, especially since we have colleagues that are disabled,” said Kuzma.
She, too, agrees with the congressman’s letter to add more signage and parking accessibility.
“It’s definitely important to bring up these issues, especially with like, so much kind of renewing of the transportation system that’s trying to be put in place,” said Kuzma. “I think it’s incredibly important nowadays to include those within the elderly and the disability community in those renovations.”
Amtrak Senior Public Relations Manager Jason Abrams sent out a statement:
”While we conduct renovations at Rhinecliff station, there will still be two accessible parking spots remaining at the lower level (in the same location). In addition, we are adding signage to the station and all current ADA access/paths of travel are unchanged. In fiscal year 2022, we dedicated more than $158 million to Amtrak’s ADA stations program, which has now brought 104 stations to full compliance and another 69 stations to full compliance, excluding platforms. Amtrak is committed to accessibility in all aspects of our business.”
BY JACQUELYN QUINONES DUTCHESS COUNTY
PUBLISHED 8:43 PM ET DEC. 06, 2022
